Breakers, sports collectible companies announce plans for The National

With the National Sports Collectors Convention set for July 28-Aug. 1 at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., dealers, collectors and corporate entities are putting together plans for the 41^st annual show.

The National has frequent updates on its website at nsccshow.com. We will also provide updates here as they become available.

Here is a look at the corporate plans that have been announced so far for the show:

The Ripping Wax Case Break Pavilion will feature several athletes participating in breaks, along with other exciting events, including giveaways, group breaks, a kids break, live podcasts, and new product previews. The breakers will also host non-stop entertainment, breaks and giveaways on the Mike Berkus Main Stage.

Panini, Topps, Upper-Deck, Onyx and other card manufacturers will be doing free group breaks on stage. Spots in the breaks will be given out on social media, live to attendees, and also by the individual case-breaking operations.

The Case Break Pavilion is open each day during the show and on Wednesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 29 after the show closes until 12 a.m.

The Mike Berkus Main Stage, located in the Ripping Wax Case Break Pavilion, will host numerous events, highlighted by a free autograph signing by Los Angeles Angels star Wally Joyner on Wednesday, July 29 from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Additionally, the Main stage will host new product previews, live podcasts and giveaways, including case break spots in the Topps and Onyx Futera Baseball Prospects & Legends breaks. On Saturday, the Case Break Pavilion will be hosting the “Panini Grand Case Break."

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The main stage events will be broadcast to live video streams and social media to many households around the country. Follow @rippingwax on Twitter and Miamicardclub on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest Ripping Wax Case Break Pavilion announcements and giveaways.

Among the scheduled events in the Case Break Pavilion are:

• Topps Break — Wednesday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m.

• Star Stock Box Wars – Thursday, July 29 at 11:30 am.; Friday, July 30 at 10 a.m.; Saturday, July 31 at 10 a.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m.

• Miami Card Club 2002 Mega Craques Box Break – Thursday, July 29 at 1 p.m.

4. Upper Deck New Announcements and Break — Thursday, July 29 at 3 p.m.

5. Onyx 2019 Futera Baseball Prospects and Legends Baseball Free Case Break — Friday, July 30 at 12 p.m.

6. Panini Grand Case Break — Saturday, July 31 at 12 p.m.

7. Vintage Breaks 1969-70 Topps Basketball Pack Break – Saturday, July 31 at 3 p.m.

8. Sports Card Investors Pack Wars – Saturday, July 31 at 5 p.m.

Other events will include:

• The Great American Collectibles Show. Watch the live radio show about collecting on the Main Stage Friday, July 30 from 1-3 p.m.

• Star Stock. StarStock will be hosting a 128-person, Box War Tournament. Each round will be winner-take-all, and the prizes will get bigger the farther you advance. DM @StarStock on Instagram for additional details and information on how to secure your spot early.

MiamiCardClub — Looking For The $200k Card. MiamiCardClub presents a once-in-a-lifetime box break. The 2002 Mega Craques box break will be searching for the Cristiano Ronaldo rookie, a holy grail in the soccer card market, at the Ripping Wax Case Breaking Pavilion main stage Thursday, July 29 at 1 p.m.

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Ebay will be the Premier Sponsor of the Case Break Pavilion. Ebay's booth in the Corporate Pavilion will have information about promotional buyer and seller offers on ebay for attendees of the National.

The National is supporting Signatures for Soldiers during the 2021 event. The fundraising campaign, which raises money and awareness for the nonprofit Military Missions in Action (MMIA), will be located just outside the Case Break Pavilion. Signatures for Soldiers obtains player autographs and sells them to the general public, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to MMIA supporting disabled veterans. Collectors can buy authentic autographs of your favorite players while supporting a great cause.

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Vintage Breaks is opening up a 1969-70 Topps Basketball Wax Pack on the main stage. It also will be opening some other vintage and modern treats, including some free breaks. It will be giving away more than $25,000 in prizes.

GTS will again be supporting retailers and breakers throughout the convention with a lounge area for retail customers and breakers. The lounge will be open throughout the show and retailers and breakers will be provided with complimentary food vouchers redeemable at the venue’s concession stands. Additionally, GTS will be offering product services, including product shipping to and from the event, show specials and other unique opportunities.

"It’s really important for us to support the shops and breakers at the biggest show of the year," said Mike Blumenson, category manager. "Our goal is to do anything we can to support our partners to make it a successful event for them and the lounge area has proven to be a relaxing place to take a break during the show.”

In addition, Go GTS Live, The Hobby’s Web Show, will once again be emceeing the mainstage with free giveaways, trivia contests for prizes, free manufacturer box breaks, industry guests and more.

Southern Hobby will be hosting this year’s Breakers Event at the Kings Dining & Entertainment in Rosemont, Ill. on Friday, July 30. The party will feature free food, bowling, billiards, fun, refreshments, and giveaways from the manufacturers. The event will feature breaks and unique preview products being opened.

PSA will not only be grading cards and doing on-site authentication, but will also be interviewing prospective employees.

PSA will be conducting on-site interviews for several openings at its Southern California headquarters. Collectors at the show are encouraged to fill out an online registration form by July 16 to land a potential in-person meeting in Chicago.

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PSA will be offering on-site grading services at The National. Collectors are required to fill out submission forms online in advance and bring the form along with your on-site grading orders. PSA will not have paper/carbon copy forms available at the booth and will not be accepting drop-off submissions for take-home service levels.

PSA will also be doing on-site autograph authentications. It will be offering several show discounts, including a $10 show signer special; a $15 fee for baseballs with authentication fees of $35 or less; and $40 for the authentication and encapsulation of autographed vinyl figure boxes with original authentication fees of $35 or less. Each special applies only to items with a maximum declared value of $200.

PSA will also be giving away free copies of its August 2021 issue of Sports Market Report (SMR) magazine at Booth #1531.

Topps will have several activities throughout the convention, including an exclusive wrapper redemption program at Booth #676, giveaways, pack wars, a trading card wall, special guests appearances and more.

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The wrapper redemption packs will feature former and current MLB stars, as well as MLB prospects in the 2021 Bowman design. Packs can be redeemed by purchasing select 2021 Topps hobby box products at the show.

Topps will also reveal the National Baseball Card day checklist during The National. NBCD is Saturday, Aug. 7.

Follow Topps on Twitter (@topps), Instagram (@topps), Facebook (www.facebook.com/topps), or visit Topps.com for more updates.

Memory Lane Inc. will be displaying the only photo-matched Lou Gehrig game-used bat. Collectors are invited to see and hold the bat from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at Booth #1009. Memory Lane will also feature highlights of its upcoming Summer Auction. 

Leaf Trading Cards will have four different promotional programs at The National. Leaf will be located at Booth #864.

Leaf will host a 2021 Box Break Redemption program. Collectors can open any box of Leaf hobby product released in 2021 and get one random 1992 Pro Set-style XRC rookie of either Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Mac Jones or Justin Fields. Open five boxes at one time and get a complete set of five. Also look for ultra-short print black and white variations.

Leaf is also offering a case break redemption. Collectors can open a sealed case from a list of select products, which will be announced on July 15, and receive a random 1992 Pro Set card per box, plus an exclusive sealed box of 2021 Leaf National Signature Series with a 1/1 autograph in every box.

Leaf is also offering a 2021 VIP Set. Each VIP ticket comes with a Leaf bag that includes a four-card National Exclusive Set, including Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Spencer Torkelson and Blaze Jordan.

Leaf will also be buying cards, autographs and other collectibles for its buyback products. If you sell Leaf $100 or more at the Leaf booth, you will receive a random 1992 ProSet Football rookie. Sell $1,000 or more and receive a five-card set of 1992 Proset Rookies.

Pristine Breaks will celebrate its first National by offering $10 off first-time breaks, plus a free T-shirt. All break participants will be entered for a free break on Sunday.